[How do I add a new tab to the Excel 2007 menu?]

In Excel 2007 there are tabs with a ribbon bar. Each tab displays a different ribbon of icons.
I would like to add a new tab on the bar called "drawing tools / format tab ". I use the drawing features quite a bit and in Excel 2003 you were able to add that toolbar on the bottom of the window.
How do I add a new tab in 2007.
Thanks.
Bill

 

I have done it in Access, but it is very complicated (when compared to simply creating a new toolbar).

I would assume it is possible in all of the Office Applications:

In Access 2007, you have to:
1. Create a Table which contains the actual Tab code in XML format.
2. Create VBA code which connects to the database, reads the XML in the table, and creates the Tab
3. An Autoexec Macro which calls the VBA function that runs OnOpen.

Shazam, it works.

Now in theory, the same may be possible via different methods in Excel, but for Word or PowerPoint, you would probably have to still house the XML for the Tab(s) in a Database.

If you're not deterred, and if you think it might help, I could post some sample code from my working Access 2007 example.

 

In the interest of future visitors, I think it may be best to go ahead and post some sample code:

=====================================================

Here is the Table contents (Table name = "DbRibbons ":
(Field name) = ID, (Contents) = 1
(Field name) = RibbonName, (Contents) = HideData
(Field name) = RibbonXml, (Contents) =
<customUI xmlns=" "http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2006/01/customui" ">
<ribbon startFromScratch=" "false" ">
<tabs>
<tab idMso=" "TabHomeAccess" " visible=" "false" " />
<tab id=" "dbCustomTab" " label=" "A Custom Tab" " visible=" "true" ">
<group id=" "dbCustomGroup" " label=" "A Custom Group" ">
<control idMso=" "Copy" " label=" "Copy Data" " enabled=" "true" "/>
<control idMso=" "Paste" " label=" "Paste Data" " enabled=" "true" "/>
</group>
</tab>
</tabs>
</ribbon>
</customUI> "

=====================================================

Here is the VBA Code (saved in a module):
Function LoadRibbons()
Dim i As Integer
Dim db As DAO.Database
Set db = Application.CurrentDb
For i = 0 To (db.TableDefs.Count - 1)
If (InStr(1, db.TableDefs(i).Name, "Ribbons ")) Then
Dim rs As DAO.Recordset
Set rs = CurrentDb.OpenRecordset(db.TableDefs(i).Name)
rs.MoveFirst
While Not rs.EOF
Application.LoadCustomUI rs( "RibbonName ").Value, rs( "RibbonXml ").Value
rs.MoveNext
Wend
rs.Close
Set rs = Nothing
End If
Next i
db.Close
Set db = Nothing

End Function

=====================================================

The Macro is easy. name it AutoExec, and give it one line of functionality:
Action = RunCode
Arguments = LoadRibbons()

=====================================================

As I mentioned, this works for Access 2007.
Obviously, there would need to be some variation of activation and loading (instead of the AutoExec Macro) for other Office 2007 Apps (which I have not yet tried), but the essential XML and VBA should be relevant to all.